US TARIFFS: REQUEST FOR INPUT
As you will be aware, on 2 April President Trump announced universal 10% tariffs on top of existing US duties, fees and taxes on all imports from all trading countries, including the UK. This will come into effect on 5 April.
The UK Government will continue to engage with the US Administration on the details of these tariffs, to understand how they will be implemented. The new 10% tariffs announced on 2 April will not apply to US imports of steel, aluminium and automotive products, which are already subject to additional S232 tariffs of 25%.
As the Business Secretary and PM said on 3 April, it is of course disappointing that the US has decided to impose global tariffs and we know this will be extremely concerning for businesses and consumers across the UK. The UK will continue discussions with the US on an economic deal that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship – as many businesses leaders have called on us to do. We will continue to remain calm and committed to doing this deal. Nobody wants a trade war but nothing is off the table and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.
Request for input
To enable the UK to have every option open to us in the future, the Department launched a Request for Input on 3 April. We want to hear from business about your concerns and your assessment of the impact of any further steps we take. We want UK businesses to help shape our response to US tariffs. The Request for Input will run for four weeks until 1 May 2025. This will ask industry to feed back on the impacts of tariffs and list of US goods imports that might be targeted in a future response. Once the Request for Input closes, the Government will reflect on the feedback and consider how best to respond.
While preparing for all scenarios, the UK Government’s priority remains strengthening its relationship with the US through an economic prosperity deal, and both countries will continue to have constructive discussions in the coming weeks to agree this.
The Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, made a statement in Parliament, which is included below, announcing the launch of the Request for Input.
The GOV.UK Statement on US Tariffs and press release: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-seeks-business-views-on-response-to-us-tariffs.
Information for businesses is hosted on great.gov.uk, here: https://www.great.gov.uk/markets/united-states/us-trade-tariffs/
The Request for Input from businesses: Request for input on potential UK measures in response to US tariffs - GOV.UK.
CHEG updates: For specific tariff lines, we will need to point businesses to CHEG. This tool has not yet been updated but the tariffs on steel, aluminium and autos are already in effect, with the 10% tariff on UK exports coming into effect at 00:01 EST on 5 April. Please send holding responses to contacts and we will endeavour to get you more information as soon as possible.
